Head-rest support for couches.



No. 722,372. -PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

J. LUPPINOL HEAD REST SUPPORT FOR GOUOHES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1902. H0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

M No. 722,372. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

- 'J. LUPPINO.

HEAD REST SUPPORT FOR GOUGHES. APPLIOATION I'ILED Nov. 22, 1902.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

me a. c. N am ezTcus co. vum'au 'uo wgsumc.

UNITED STATES PATENT EFICE.

JOSEPH LUPPINO, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

HEAD-REST SUPPORT FOR COUCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 722,372, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed November 22, 1902- fierial No. 132,370. (No model.)

To all 1077107771 it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LUPPINO,a.Sl1l)- ject of the King of Italy, and a resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Head-Rest Supports for Couches; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, aside view of my improved couchhinge in the position assumed when the headrest is in its lowest position; Fig. 2, a similar view with the parts in the position assumed when the head-rest is raised to its highest position; Fig. 3, asimilar view showing the ratchet lifted out of engagement with the stud; Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line a b of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a side view of the modified form of ratchet.

This invention relates to an improvement in head-rest supports for couches, and while particularly applicable for this purpose the invention may be used with equally good results in reclining-chairs, the device being arranged to support a hinged portion, such as the head-rest of a couch or the back of a chair, at different inclinations to the body of a couch or frame of a chair, the object of the invention being a simple arrangement of parts connected directly with the hinge, whereby the position of the head-rest or back may be easily changed.

Another object of the invention is to so construct one member of the hinge that it may be utilized in securely connecting the parts of a couch-frame; and it consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

The hinge proper consists of a leaf A and a leaf B, formed, respectively, with ears C D, through which the leaves are connected by a rivet E. The leaf B is formed with the usual lips F and G and the leaf A with the usual lips H and I. The leaf A is also formed with a depending lip J, overlapping the face of the rail K of a couch, the leaf A thus serving to rigidly connect the rail K and head lock L.

Secured to the face of the leaf A is a bracket M, which is held in position at its lower end by a stud N, and to the face of this bracket a spring 0 is attached, preferably by the head of the stud N. This spring extends upward and near its upper end carries a pin P, which projects inward through an opening Q, formed in the face of the bracket M, the inner end of this pin being cut away to form a bevel R.

Pivoted to the leaf B is a ratchet S, having notches T, adapted to engage with the stud N. The outer end of this ratchet is formed with a hook U and a cam-surface V. The upper edge of the ratchet is also provided with a series of flanges W, these flanges being curved and their ends overlapping each other, forming clearance-passages X between them.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the parts are in the position which they assume when the head-rest is in its lowest position, the first notch in the ratchet being engaged with the stud N. As the head-rest is raised the notches ride over the stud, and either of the notches may be engaged therewith to give the head-rest the desired elevation. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the last notch is engaged with the stud N and the head-rest is in a nearly-upright position. notches engage with the stud N, the flanges W are always below the pin P, and if from the extreme position shown in Fig. 2 the headrest is still farther raised the cam-surface V, riding upon the stud N, will lift the ratchet upward and force the flange W past the pin P, which will yield for that purpose and which will snap in below the flange, as shown in Fig. 3. The couch-head is then free to drop, as the flanges riding upon the pin Phold the notches above the stud N, and consequently out of engagement therewith. The head-rest is free to fall until thelast section of the flange has passed the pin, when the ratchet drops to the position shown in Fig. 1. If it should be desired to arrest the movement of the head-rest at any intermediate point, it is only necessary to slightly raise the head-rest after the pin has passed any section of the flange W and so that the pin P will enter one of the openings X and permit the ratchet to fall.

While the Instead of forming the flanges W in sec tions it may be a continuous flange, as shown in Fig. 5, in which case it will be necessary to allow the head-rest to fall to its lowest position before the flange can be disengaged from the pin to allow the notches to engage with the stud.

It will be undestood that a hinge is arranged at each side of the head-rest or back of a chair.

Having thus fully described my invention,

" what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a head-rest support the combination with the hinged leaves thereof, of a ratchet pivoted to one leaf, the teeth of the ratchet adapted to engage with a stud on the other leaf, said ratchet formed with a flange, and a pin with which said flange may be engaged to hold the teeth of the ratchet out of engagement with the stud, substantially as described.

2. In a head-rest support, the combination with the hinged leaves thereof, of a ratchet pivoted to one leaf, the teeth of the ratchet adapted to engage with a stud on the other leaf, said ratchet formed with a flange, and a spring-pin with which said flange may be engaged to hold the teeth of the ratchet out of engagement with the stud, substantially as described.

3. In a head-rest support, the combination with the hinged leaves thereof, of a ratchet pivoted to one leaf, the teeth of the ratchet adapted to engage With a stud on the other leaf, said ratchet formed with a sectional flange, and a pin with which said flange may be engaged to hold the teeth of the ratchet out of engagement with the stud, substantially as described.

4. In a head-rest support, the combination with the hinged leaves thereof, of a ratchet pivoted to one leaf and formed With notches in its lower edge for engagement with the stud on the second leaf, said ratchet also formed with a flange at its upper edge, a bracket mounted on said second leaf and supporting a spring-pin adapted to coact with the said flange to hold the teeth of the ratchet out of engagement with the said stud, substantially as described.

5. A head-rest supportfor couches consisting of two hinged leaves, a ratchet pivoted to one leaf and formed with notches in its lower edge, a flange at its upper edge, and with a hook at its outer end, a stud mounted on the second leaf with which the teeth of the ratchet engage, a bracket also mounted on said second leaf, a spring secured to said bracket and carrying a pin at its upper end which projects through the bracket into the path of said ratchet and adapted to engage with the flange of the ratchet to hold the teeth of the ratchet out of engagement with the stud, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH LUPPINO. Witnesses;

FREDERIO C. EARLE, CLARA L. WEED. 

